Dispenser for fluent materials



Aug. 24, 1 954 W. KEENAN DISPENSER FOR FLUENT MATERIALS Filed May 12,1.952

Patented Aug. 24, 1954 OFFICE 2,687,239 DISPENSER FOR FLUENT MATERIALSWilliam Keenan, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 12. 1952, Serial No. 287,337

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensers for fluent materials and moreparticularly to a dispenser for ground coffee for home use.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a dispenser forground coffee and other fluent substances which is simple in designcomprising a frame or body structure formed from a pair of identicalparts and a rotatable measuring valve or drum element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser in which theforegoing objective is realized and which is so constructed and arrangedthat the valve element thereof may be readily removed for cleaning andfor replacement by another valve element arranged to provide a differentsize of charge or increment of the dispensed material.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such additionalobjects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention residesin the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts disclosed, by way of example, in the following specification ofcertain modes of execution of the invention; reference being had to theaccompanying drawings which form a part'of said specification and inwhich drawings:

Fig. l is a side perspective view of a dispenser embodying theinvention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1; aportion of the cover being broken away to disclose internal structure,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the dispenser shown in thepreceding figures and showing particularly the dispensing spout thereof,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the portion of the dispenser shown in Fig.3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-6of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modified constructionof the means for maintaining the valve element in assembly; a componentpart being shown alongside for clearness of illustration,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary right hand side elevation of the constructionshown in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figs.7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, the first illustrated form of the inventionis shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and comprises a body or framestructure I having a hopper portion 2 closed at its upper end by a cover3 including a peripheral depending rib 4 closely engaging the inner faceof the hopper portion as best shown in Fig. 6. In the illustrated form,the hopper 2 is rectangular in transverse cross section and at its lowerend it tapers in inverted frusto-pyramidal form to a depending valvehousing and dispensing spout portion 5 terminating in an open,rectangular end 6. The body structure may be conveniently formed of apair of identical injection molded plastic halves l and 8 joinedtogether by cementing or other appropriate means along a medial plane 9which, to provide suitable joining area and to disguise the resultingseam line, may be in the form of a rib Ill.

The lower end of the hopper portion 2 terminates in a rectangular slotl2 opening into the upper end of the valve housing and spout portion 5which upper end is curved to conform to the periphery of a rotatablevalve element It formed as a cylinder having diametrically oppositepockets I 3, M of substantially the same peripheral outline as the slotl2 (see Fig. 6); the ends of the valve element comprising discs l5 andI6 having one side thereof cemented to the body portion ii of the valveelement; the discs preferably being provided with inwardly extendingflange portions), is engaging the inner face of the body portion ll inthe manner shown in Fig. 6 for convenience in locating the parts in as,-sembly. The disc l5 at its outer side is provided with an axiallydisposed laterally extending journal member is and the disc i 6 isprovided with a similar journal member 26; the latter terminating in ahandle portion 2! for rotation of the valve element assembly.

The body forming halves l and 8 at the portions thereof which form thevalve housing and spout portion are cut away from the meeting line 9with resultant formation of a pair of slots 22 and 23 xtending upwardlyfrom the lower end of the spout and terminatingin rounded ends 24 and 25which are engaged, respectively by the journal members l9 and 25; saidrounded ends being so located that the periphery of the valve elementfits the correspondingly rounded inner upper face 26 of the valvehousing (see Fig. 6).

The opposed edge faces of the slots 22 and 23 are each provided withlongitudinally extending slots 2'! and disposed in each pair of theseslots is a retaining member 28 having a central portion 2.! completelyfilling the journal receiving slot and having lateral flange portions 35engaging the pair of the associated slots 27. The retaining membersextend upwardly and engage the lower sides of the respective journals(see Fig. 4) and at their lower ends the retainer members are flush withthe lower end of the dispensing spout and valve housing 5. In this formof the invention, the retaining members are cemented in place to effectpermanent assembly of the rotatable valve in the body structure. Thefinished dispenser may be mounted on a wall by suitable bracket means; aclip C for detachable engagement with a complementary wall mountedbracket being indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 6. Also, ifdesired, the interior of the hopper may be provided with an agitator 3!comprising a resilient element having one end attached to the interiorwall of the hopper and having the opposite end thereof extending throughthe opening I2 and into the pockets M as they come into registry withthe opening 12. As the valve element is rotated in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 6, the free end of the agitator is moved outof the path of the pocket and when the next pocket moves into positionthe agitator moves back into its position or" repose; such movementsacting to destroy any tendency of the hopper contents to producecavitation with resultant failure to properly fill the valve elementpockets 14, Hi. The lower end of the agitator may be provided withlaterally extending wings 32, 32 to increase the effectiveness of theaction thereof.

Referring next to the form of the invention shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9,the means for holding the valve element in assembly is modified topermit the valve element to be removed for cleaning or to be replaced byother valve elements having measuring pockets of a different size. Toeffect this change, the wall of the edge of one groove 2? is providedwith a pair of longitudinally extending slots 33, 33 and the end 34 ofthe slotted wall is extended slightly below the lower end of the spoutportion for manual engagement while the inner face of the Wall portionis provided with an inwardly protruding detent portion 35.

'The retaining member 36 at one lower corner thereof is provided with anotch 3'! engageable by said detent portion 35. Since the body structureis formed of identical halves, on uniting a pair of said halves to forma completed body structure, one of said detents will be located at eachside. To effect the assembly of the valve element, the valve element isfirst placed in the slots, the retainers 36, 36 are inserted in theslots with displacement of the detent portions and upon being pushedinto position, the detents will engage the notches 31 in the retainersand hold them in assembly. To remove the valve assembly, the detents aresprung out of the notches, and the retainers and valve element areremoved. Thus the device may be more readily cleaned and in manufacture,the same body structure may be provided with different valve elementsfor use with difierent materials. While the above invention may find itsgreatest usefulness as a coffee dispenser, it is also useful for otherfluent materials such as soap and detergent powders and flakes, sugar,tea, insecticides, and many other materials.

While in the foregoing specification certain "iodes of execution of theinvention are disclosed, the invention is not to be deemed to be limitedto the specific forms s disclosed, and it is to be understood that theinvention embraces all such modifications in the parts, and in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come withinthe purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a manually operable dispensing apparatus, a body structurecomprising a hopper portion having a tapered lower end and a valvehousing and dispensing spout portion disposed below said lower end ofsaid hopper portion and an aperture affording communication between saidportions of said body structure; said body structure being formed ofidentical halves united along a median plane of said body structure, arotatable cylindrical valve element disposed within said valve housingportion with the axis of rotation thereof disposed in said median planeand having a plurality of material receiving pockets disposed to bebrought into and out of registry with said aperture incident to rotationof said valve element; said'valve element comprising a hollow, generallycylindrical body portion having pocket forming depressions extendingaxially thereof, a disc secured to one end of said valve body portionand having an integrally formed journal element disposed in axialalignment with said valve body portion and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a second disc secured to the opposite end of said valve bodyportion and having a second journal element disposed in axial alignmentwith said first-named journal element; each of said body structureforming halves at the lower ends thereof having identical portionsdisposed away from said medial plane with resultant formation of a pairof upwardly extending slots in which said journal elements are received,and blocks secured in said slots below said journal elements effectiveto retain said journal elements in said slots.

2. In a manually operable dispensing apparatus, a body structurecomprising a hopper portion having a tapered lower end and a valvehousing and dispensing spout portion disposed below said lower end ofsaid hopper portion and an aperture affording communication between saidportions of said body structure; said body structure being formed ofidentical halves united along a median plane of said body structure, arotatable cylindrical valve element disposed within said valve housingportion with the axis of rotation thereof disposed in said median planeand having a plurality of material receiving pockets disposed to bebrought into and out of registry with said aperture incident to rotationof said valve element; said valve element comprising a hollow, generallycylindrical body portion having pocket forming depressions extendingaxially thereof, a disc secured to one end of said valve body portionand having an integrally formed journal element disposed in axialalignment with said valve body portion and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a second disc secured to the opposite end of said valve bodyportion and having a second journal element disposed in axial alignmentwith said first-named journal element, detachable means carried by saidbody structure affording bearing support for said journal members,integrally formed latch means carried by each of the halves of said bodystructure effective to releasably hold said bearing support formingmeans in assembly with said body structure, and an operating handlecarried by said last-named journal element.

3. In a manually operable dispensing apparatus, a body structurecomprising a hopper portion having a tapered lower end and a valvehousing and dispensing spout portion disposed below said lower end ofsaid hopper portion and an aperture affording communication .betweensaid portions of said body structure; said body structure being formedof identical halves united along a median plane of said body structure,a rotatable cylindrical valve element disposed within said valve housingportion with the axis of rotation thereof disposed in said median planeand having a plurality of material receiving pockets disposed to bebrought into and out of registry with said aperture incident to rotationof said valve element; said valve element comprising a hollow, generallycylindrical body portion having pocket forming depressions extendingaxially thereof, a disc secured to one end of said valve body portionand having an integrally formed journal element disposed in axialalignment with said valve body portion and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a second disc secured to the opposite end of said valve bodyportion and having a second journal element disposed in axial alignmentwith said first-named journal element; each of said body structureforming halves at the lower ends thereof having identical portionsdisposed away from said median plane with resultant formation of a pairof upwardly extending slots in which said journal elements are received,and blocks secured in said slots below said journal elements effectiveto retain said journal elements in said slots; each of said discs at theside thereof engaging said. valve body portion having laterallyprojecting lugs engageable with the inner face of said valve bodyportion and effective to locate said discs in axial aligmnent with saidbody portion and with each other.

4. In a manually operable dispensing apparatus, a body structurecomprising a hopper portion having a tapered lower end and a valvehousing and dispensing spout portion disposed below said lower end ofsaid hopper portion and an aperture afiording communication between saidportions of said body structure; said body structure being formed ofidentical halves united along a portion and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a

second disc secured to the opposite end of said valve body portion andhaving a second journal element disposed in axial alignment with saidfirst-named journal element, detachable means carried by said bodystructure affording bearing support for said journal members, integrallyformed latch means carried by each of the halves of said body structureeffective to releasably hold said bearing supporting forming means inassembly with said body structure, and an operating handle carried bysaid last-named journal element; each of said discs at the side thereofengaging said valve body portion having laterally projecting lugsengageable with the inner face of said valve body portion and efiectiveto locate said discs in axial alignment with said body portion and witheach other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 589,775 Akeson Sept. 7, 1897 852,603 Hanlon May 7, 19071,053,169 Gillespie Feb. 18, 1913 1,116,021 Cornish Nov. 3, 19141,205,088 Fietsch Nov. 14, 1916 1,513,563 Smith Oct. 28, 1926

